much for us," Bertric said. "There has been a gale somewhere far
north, to judge by this swell. Now, I want breakfast before it
comes, but I dare not rouse the lady by getting yon kettle."

As if she had heard him, from beyond the penthouse we saw the lady
herself coming, and we rose up to greet her. Dalfin went quickly,
and helped her over the slanting timbers of the house, where they
blocked the way, and so she came aft to us. She had taken off her
mail, and had put on a warm, blue kirtle over her white dress, and
had made some differences otherwise, which are past my setting
down. But now she looked fresh and bright after the rest, and the
utmost of the trouble had gone from her face.

She greeted us as if we were old friends of her own household, and
that was good. Then she sat on the steersman's bench, which we set
for her, and asked of the sea and wind, and the chances of the day,
brightly. And so at last Bertric said what was nearest to his mind.

"The wind will be here shortly, lady, and meanwhile we were
thinking of our breakfast. Yesterday we had no scruple in helping
ourselves, but today we are somewhat shy, maybe. But we would bring
the great kettle from forward, if you will break your fast with
us."

"Friend Bertric," she said, laughing, "we made a pact concerning
equal shares of favour and hardship alike. Yet I do not rightly
know--"

She looked grave for a little while, staying her words and
thinking.

"Aye," she said at last, with a smile; "this ship was provisioned
for a long voyage--for the longest of all, indeed. It seems that
for part of the way we have to be her crew. Well, then, we may take
what we will of her stores, and do no wrong. The great cauldron,
too, holds but part of the funeral feast, and that was mine. Aye,
fetch it. There are other things also which may be found, and you
can take of them."

But we had no need to search further, for what we had found last
night was more than enough. We brought the cauldron aft, and some
of the oatcake; and as we ate, first grew and darkened a long blue
line which crossed the sea to the eastward, and then came stray
airs which lifted the loose folds of the sail uselessly.

Bertric and I went forward and got out two of the ship's long oars,
and pulled her head round to the southward. The water dimpled
alongside of us and the sail filled as the breeze came. We laid in
the oars and went aft to the helm; and so in a few minutes the ship
had gathe